Dispensing bottle closure



J 1952 w. E. SCHWIMMER ETAL 8 66 DISPENSING BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed March8, 1950 2? A? +p) s 21 0 I 17 INVEN TOR.

MLLMMEJCl/W/MME/Q BY LE N/m0 Mull/N I a I I I, I

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 DISPENSING BOTTLE CLOSURE William E. Schwimmerand Leonard Maullin, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 8, 1950, Serial No. 148,438

12 Claims.

This invention relates to and has for an object the provision of asimple, economical and effective bottle closure adapted for ,applicationonly .to bottles having special characteristics and arranged in a novelmanner so as to provide an efiective seal against leakage of the fluidcontents of a bottle when the closure is open and to seal the opening ofthe bottle against discharge of its contents when the closure isadjusted to closed position.

As distinguished from prior patented and frequently used pouring spoutsand measuring dispensers which are usually arranged in the form ofstoppers inserti-ble in outlets of most all types of bottles orexternally applied to the necks of bottles and inall cases readilyremovable, our invention contemplates the provision of a dispensingclosure which when once aflixed to a bottle is incapable of removalexcept by breaking the bottle, and to such end can only be applied tospecially designed bottles. Hence, the bottle and the closure areinter-dependent.

While our closure may be readily used in connection with bottles orcontainers for many kinds of liquids and gases, it is particularlyadapted for application to glass bottles for liquids such as liquorswhich are required to be broken after the original contents have beenexhausted and to such end it is an object to provide a dispensingclosure therefor which is capable of production at extremely low costand is therefore a dispensable article which may be discarded when thebottles are broken and discarded and unworthy of reuse because of itscheapness in spite of its possible fitness for reuse.

An important object is to provide a bottle having a neck formed with anannular flanged lip and a closure longitudinally adjustable on the neckbetween closed and dispensing positions and provided with internal meansfor sealing the bottle opening when in closed position and for sealingthe closure against leakage of the bottle contents when the closure isin open pouring position.

A further object is to provide a closure embodying means therewithinwhich is yieldable to permit application of the closure to a bottle butwhich is prevented from yielding and serves to lock the'closure on thebottle when moved reversely to a predetermined extent.

Another object is to provide means in the closure for admitting air toand from the presence of the contained liquid so as not to impede thefree flow of liquid in a pouring operation and so arranged that aseparate air chamber is proto atmosphere.

2 vided in interposition between a liquid dispensing chamber andatmosphere.

Other and more detailed objects of invention may appear as thedescription progresses.

We have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved dispensing closure attachedto a bottle of conventional form but having special characteristicsadapting it for use in connection with our new closure;

Fig. 2 is a substantially full size cross sectional view of our closuremounted on the neck of a bottle and in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar cross sectional view of the same with the closure inopen position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and r Fig. 5 is afragmentary sectional view in the plane of Figs. 2 and 3, showing acombined seal and look as when the closure is being applied to a bottlein a mannerwhich prevents removal of the closure from a bottle.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a closure C embodying our improvements ispreferably but not necessarily. of circular cross section and is formedwith a skirt l0 open at its bottom and closedat its upper end by a wallH. The lower portion of skirt 1 0 is internally threaded at l2 so thatthe closure may be screwed on to the externally threaded neck l3 of abottle B to an extent limited by a shoulder I4.

The skirt I0 is provided with spaced internal annular grooves l5 and [6in which sealing elements I I and I1 respectively are marginally heldand between which a dispensing chamber I8 is formed for receiving fluidfrom bottle B through outlet passage l9, while a separate air chamber 20is formed between sealing element l1 and wall I l It will be noted thatelement H is in the form of a disc while element I I is in the form of aring. Both of the elements I! and H are formed of sufficiently flexiblematerial, such as mildly soft plastic, that they may be inserted oneafter the other through the open end of skirt l0 and sprung into thegrooves l5 and 16, respectively,

and held by their inherent tension. Disc IT has a vent 2| leadingbetween chambers 18 and 20 and chamber 20 has a vent 22 to atmosphere bymeans of which dispensing chamber 18 is open indirectly A pouring spout23 is provided on skirt H1 at a point diametrically opposite vent 22 andhas an outlet passage 24 leading from chamber l8. Pasassacee sage 24 andvent 22 are preferably originally sealed by teats 25 and 26,respectively, so as to seal the bottle against atmosphere and therebypreserve the contents until time for use. Said teats may be cut awayfrom the outer ends of the passages 22 and 24 when the bottle isinitially opened.

Neck 13 has an annularly flanged lip 2! below which is a wide grooveZSin which groove the seal I1 is movable from completely closed positionas shown in Fig. 2 to completely open position as shown in Fig. 3 withits inner edge always in engagement with the bottom ofthegrooveilii,thereby preventing leakage of fluid from chamber I8 between skirt l andneckbottle is tilted in a pouring operation.

The skirt H3 is long enough .sothat When-lain"? ing a closure to abottle the skirt may be screwed on to neck l3 to the extent of at leastafew:

threads before sealing ring ll engages the upper end of lip 21;aitenwhich the: continued turning of the closure gradually deforms ring;1:? up. wardly as the ring is moved over the bevelled edge of lip 21;When: the closure-is suificiently moved on the neck ringll"will:.resume-itsior1g1- nal form at a point below lip IS ingroove-23. Hence, when the inner diameter of skirt Ifl and the outerdiametenof. lip 21 are relatively establishedit willb'eimpossibletonretract the ringll beyond'the flat planeofthedower side of thelip andthe closure cannot. be removed; fromthe. bottle.

It may be observed? that. the Width of' groove 28 corresponds to thedistancethe closure is movable on the bottle between; compl-etely'open:and closed positions but: that: it' is:not necessary to move theclosure'toits'extreme outwardzposition to dispense the contents ofthebottle from chamber "3. When the closure is: adjustediinwardly to: apointwher'eat the end of skirt: Iii almost. If; not actually engagesshoulder M :on the neck: 13 (Fig. 2), the disc I! will seal passage l5.at the upper side of lip 21 so that'fluidfrom;the bottle cannot beevacuated into chamber i8: even though thebottl'e istilted as impouringposition; and in saidposition theringzwlz'l'. 'willzseal; the jointbetween neck l3" and skirt [0 at.the:-lower end'of groove 28. At alltimes-athe: innenedge of' ring IT seals the space between skint); andthe bottom of groove 28-, andzwherrithe closure is completely openitseals the: spans. between skirt I0 and lip 21 (Fig. 3). I

Vents 2| and 22'to chamber zlflfromschamber l8 and from chamber to. theatmosphere; re. spectively. are suificiently spaced radially from eachother'and both from spout"23;.that when the bottle-is tilted to dispensefluid-from chamber it! the fluid from chamber I8 will nott flow intochamber 20 and yetair from chamber I8 will be readily vented to and fromchamber. 20 to the atmosphere. Also, air is freely admitted to chamberl8, passage 19 and the bottle to permit-free evacuation of the fiuiclatwill;

Fluid in any desirednquantity may be dispensed freely even if theclosure is only partly open. Due to the fact that the closure body maybe made of-rubber, plastic or other'cheap materialiof but one molded,extruded or stamped piece of material and the seals l1 and 1"! 0f th adiiferent but/softer and more compressible mate'- rial the un tof theclosures per'bottle is so minimized that when. the bottles are destroyedthe closures may be' discarded" with but insignificant loss to userswhich is greatlyless-than I 3 as: whenthe ail) losses otherwise arisingfrom free or overgenerous dispensing of valuable liquids and freelyavailable access thereto.

Seals I1 and H are sufficiently stiff that when sealed in theirrespective grooves I5 and I6 they will not be displaced during use ofthe closure and yet said elements are compressible and suf ficientlydeformable that when the closure is closed the seal Iii will overlieethealip; Z?! of the bottle for closing opening l9 against flow of liquidtherethrough even though the bottle is tilted as in pouring position andseal I1 will seal the joint=.between.the skirt Ill and neck l3 atopposite extremes of its movement by engaging the lowerside of 'lip-2 land the lower shoulder of groove 28.

As. shown..-in" Rig. 5, as the closure is tele-- 27 and skirt I0 isjust'wide enough to permit seazl.

I! to move therethrough over the bevelled edge of the lip but not wideenough to permit passage upwardly therethrough inthe absenceofasimilarly bevelled lower lip: surface and; therefore,v prevents removalof'the closure-from the'bottl'e.

Our' improved closure andcontainer combination is unique in itsembodiment of the double seal (when open and closed) of the closure onthe bottle; the method of applying the closureto a" bottle; theirremovability-of the closure when applied to a bottle-andthe-provisionof controlled means for admitting air to and for exhaustingair from the dispensing chamber without employ ment'of valves; and theabsence of springs and other devices usually provided incontainerclosures.

We claim:.

1. In combination, a container having a threadedneck and an annularflanged lip around it'soutlet, and aclosure having a' skirt-adapted" tobe. screwedonto. said ,neck and having a top wall, a sealing.di'scrborneby said skirt in a plane spaced from said top walllior.engagement with saidyll'p to close; the containen outletandsubdividingthe interior of the closure into. an upper: air.v chamberand a. lowerv dispensing. chamber. said dispenser chamber. having an.outlet. through which the contents. of. the container. may. bedispensed; and a sealing ring borne by the .closureyieldable: .to permititsmovement. over and. to scaling. osition with said neck.ina..-plane.below said lipand tor locking theclosure on the'containeragainst .removal.

2. In combination, a container having a threaded'neck and .an annularflanged. lip around its outlet; and a closure having a. skirt adapted tobe screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, asealing disc: borne bysaidskintinaplane spaced from said" topwall for. engagement with saidlip to close: the containeroutletand:sub.- dividing theinterior of theclosureintoan upper air chamber and a lower; dispensing chamber, saiddispenser cham'ber'having anoutlet. through which the contents of thecontainer may-'be distpensed, and a sealing ring borne-by the. closureyieldable to permit its movement over and to "sealing'position with saidneck in'a plane below saidzlip and forlocking. the closure on the container against removal, saidair chamber having a'vent to atmosphere anda port open to the dispensing chamber, whereby air resident in thedispensing chamber is exhausted to atmosphere as the contents of thecontainer are discharged into the dispensing chamber.

3. In combination, a container having a threaded neck and an annularflanged lip around its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted tobe screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, a, sealing disc borneby said skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement withsaid lip to close the container outlet'and subdividing theinterior ofthe closure into an upper air chamber and a lower dispensing chamber,said dispenser chamber having an outlet through which the contents ofthe container may be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closureyieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with saidneck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on thecontainer .its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted to bescrewed onto said neckand having atop wall, a sealing disc borne by saidskirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with saidlip'to close the container outlet and subdividing the interior of theclosure into an upper air chamber and a lower dispensing chamber,

said dispensing chamber having an outlet through which the contents ofthe container may-be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closureyieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with saidneck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on thecontainer against removal, the upper surface of said lip being bevelledto permit movement of said sealing ring downwardly thereover intosealing and locking position and the lower surface of said lip beingflat so as to prevent movement of the sealing ring upwardly over thelip.

5. In combination, a container having a threaded neck and an annularflanged lip around its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted tobe screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, a sealing disc'borne bysaid skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with saidlip to close the container outlet and subdividing the interior of theclosure into an upper air chamber and a lower dispensing chamber, saiddispensing chamber having an outlet through which the contents of thecontainer may be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closureyieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with saidneck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on thecontainer against removal, said closure body being formed of rigidmaterial and said sealing disc and ring being formed of compressible andresilientmaterial and aflixed at their external peripheries to the skirtof the closure.

6. In combination, a container having a threaded neck and an annularflanged lip around its outlet, and a closure having a skirt adapted tobe screwed onto said neck and having a top wall, a sealing disc borne bysaid skirt in a plane spaced from said top wall for engagement with'said lip to close the container outlet and subdividing the interior ofthe closure into an upper air' chamber and a lower dispensing chamber,said dispensing chamber having an outlet through which the contents ofthe container may be dispensed, and a sealing ring borne by the closureyieldable to permit its movement over and to sealing position with saidneck in a plane below said lip and for locking the closure on thecontainer against removal, said air chamber having a vent to atmosphereand a port open to the dispensing chamberpwhereby air resident in thedispensing chamber is exhausted to atmosphere as the contents of thecontainer are discharged into the dispensing chamber,said vent and saidport being located at substantially diametrically opposite points on theclosure from the closure outlet to prevent flow of liquid from thedispensing chamber .into the air chamber and outwardly therefrom whenthe container is tilted in a pourin operation. a

k 7, In combination, a, container having a neck formed with an annularexternal groove the upper extremity of which is'defined by a flanged lipand the lower extremity of which is defined by an annular shoulder, aclosure adapted for adjustable telescopic attachment to said neck andformed with a top wall and a pouring outlet below said top wall, and anannular sealing ring borne by and movable with the closure betweenopposite positions of engagement with the lower surface of said lip andsaid shoulder while its inner edge engages the bottom of said groove,and cooperating means on the closure and said neck for axially adjustingthe closure between pouring and nonpouring positions on the container inaccordance with the limitations of movement of the sealing rmgh, I H a 18. In combination, a container havinga neck formed with an annularexternal groove the upper F extremity of which is defined by a flangedlip and the lower extremity of which is defined by an annular shoulder,a closure adapted for adjustable telescopic attachment to said neck andformed'with a top wall and a pouring outlet below said top wall, and anannular sealing ring borne by and movable with the closure betweenopposite positions of engagement with the lower surface of said lip andsaid shoulder while its inner edge engages the bottom of said groove,and cooperating means on the closure and said neck for axiallyadjustingthe closure between pouring and nonpouring positions on thecontainer in accordance with the limitations of movement of the sealingring, and means on the closure for sealing the container againstdischarge of its contents when said sealing ring engages said shoulder.

9. In combination, a container having a neck formed with an annularexternal groove the upper extremity of which is defined by a flanged lipand the lower extremity of which is defined by an annular shoulder, aclosure adapted for adjustable telescopic attachment to said neck andformed with a top wall and a pouring outlet below said top wall, and anannular sealing ring borne by and movable with the closure betweenopposite positions of engagement with the lower surface of said lip andsaid shoulder while its inner edge engages the bottom of said groove,and cooperating means on the closure and said neck 7 5 for axiallyadjusting the closure between pouring ausmen-murmg "positions an theicontainer .:in accordance with Ethe limitations to: movement mi dzhe:sealing ring; and :means -:on the closure for :sealing' the nontaineragainst discharge :of' its contents when Sam sealing ring engagesF'Sflid 'shoiLmier, said means including a sealing liel'em'entengageable with the lip "of the container for zclosfing tthe outlet ofithe container.

10. .In combination, 'a :container having arneck form-ed withianannularexternal 'gnoove the upper extremity of which is defined iby azflange'dlip and the lower extremity of which is defined by :an annular:shoulder, "a :closure adapted for adjust- -ableRtelesoopic attachment:to said neck and fonmediwithia topiwall and a1pourmgnutletbelowtoptwall, and anannularsealingring ibol ne byiand :movable withxtheclosure between opposite apositions-inf engagement withthe :lower:sur-

I'ace of :said flip and :said shoulder whil'e sits sinner :edgeenga'gesthe bottomrofssaiii groove, and icooperating means on -the closure ."and:said neck for axiallysadjusting' the olosureibetweenspouring andnon-pouring "positions on the container in no- :eordancewithithelimitationsaof movement of the sealing ring, and means on the closurefor :sealiingthexoontain'er against discharge 10f its contents-wh'ensaid sealing :ring engages said-shoultier, said means including aasealing element zen- :ga'geable with the lip of "the 'container forclosing the-outlet of the :container said closure having a dispensingacha'mber .outwardly of said :lip and .in

rcommunication'with said pouring outlet and also FBfEBHWBB 'tweenthe-=c1osure-a11d the container whenathe "container: outlet is :openzand:c'losed andsfor-sealing" the. container aoutlet when the closurefis:ad- 'justed on the container .to :aipredeterminedaextent, .one of :said-sealing elements ziorming a ipartition in said closure foriproviding'aniairz'cham- :ber apart .from the dispensing chamber, :said

chamber being open to atmosphere, said tdispensing chamber beingopen tothe "air chamber at-1a pointzremoteiromsaid pouring outlet.

:12. :A. 'container closure comprising: a bfidyifif hard :materialhaving a dispensing chamber and :n' -pourin :ou'tlet therefrom, and :apair 101' *sealing elements :of resilient material *home :by said .bodyin spaced planes and itogether movable with the -closure for engagementwith different surfaces "of a container for respectively "sealing thejoint 'rheimeen athe .elosune :a-nd :the container when :containeroutlet is open and tclosed iandrforssealing the container outlet whenthe :elosure :is adjusted onith'e container to :a predetermined extent,rone .of said :sealing :elements forming :a :partition :in "said closuregfor "providing an;air:eham bier :apart .from :the dispensing nhamber,said air chamber-being open ;to iatmosphere,-zsaid dispense :ingxchamberbeing 'open" to the air chamber-at za anoint remote from said ,pouringoutlet,:sa-id other :sealing element forming :a lock :to prevent Te-:moval of the closure from a container when-enigagedwithzaportionnfzthenontainer.

LEONARD MAULLIN.

REFERENGES CIT-ED "The following references are *of record in the file'of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name Date il;36l 290 Spruill v Dec. '11,1 920 1352,96? .Freedman. ;Apr.. -24, 1923 :1;600;'7 1 8 Chapman Sept.21, 1-926' i2;22-l;52-7 aschiok Nov. 12,1940 -;2,387Z;699 Bates Got. 23,:1945

